National Engineering Register
Join the NER and showcase your professional credibility.
Engineers Australia introduced the National Engineering Register (NER) in 2015. This comprehensive directory is a way to recognise engineers who meet the high standards of skill, qualification and professionalism expected in the industry.
It provides a national framework of registration for professional engineers, engineering technologists and engineering associates across the private and public sectors.
As a publicly-searchable database, the NER gives individuals and businesses access to a qualified pool of engineers, endorsed by Australia’s engineering peak body.
The NER is available for anyone to search. All the engineers registered in the NER database meet Engineers Australia’s high standards of skill and professionalism.
You can search the database for engineers by name, area of engineering, location or occupational category.
Join the NER
As an engineering professional, obtaining and displaying the NER credential is a way to showcase your skill, talent and experience to prospective employers and clients.
You don’t need to be a member of Engineers Australia to apply for an NER credential.
To be eligible to apply for an NER credential, you need to meet the following criteria:
- have an Engineers Australia recognised engineering qualification or a successful Engineers Australia migration skills assessment or membership competency assessment
- have five or more years of relevant full-time equivalent engineering work experience in the last 10 years, with at least four years of full-time equivalent post graduate experience
- meet all five NER competencies (PDF).
How to apply
Applying for an NER credential is a five-step process.
- Create an account in the EA portal.
- Login and complete the online self-assessment form to rate yourself against the NER competencies and apply for NER.
- Obtain two relevant referees who can verify your recent work experience.
- Have an NER interview with a qualified Engineers Australia assessor.
- Receive your outcome notification. If successful, you’ll be automatically added to the NER.
If you’re a member of Engineers Australia you can also join the NER when you apply for a Chartered credential.
Members
If you’re an Engineers Australia member you’ll need the following documents scanned and ready to upload:
- An expanded CV detailing the projects you’ve been responsible for and your key achievements. This should include situations, problems and opportunities you’ve faced. The specialist skills or knowledge you used and the outcomes achieved. Also include any actions you took to address problems. Highlight where you’ve shown innovation and creativity.
Non-members
If you’re not an Engineers Australia member, you can still apply for an NER credential. You’ll need the following documents scanned and ready to upload:
- An expanded CV detailing the projects you’ve been responsible for and your key achievements. This should include situations, problems and opportunities you’ve faced. The specialist skills or knowledge you used and the outcomes achieved. Also include any actions you took to address problems. Highlight where you’ve shown innovation and creativity.
- Colour-scanned copy of your photo identification. A passport or driver licence is fine.
- Proof of your recognised qualifications such as a testamur or transcripts from an Engineers Australia accredited qualification. Alternatively you can use an Engineers Australia membership competency or migration skills assessment outcome letter.
For your application you’ll also need to supply the names and contact details of two referees who can verify your recent work experience. They’ll need to be:
- Preferably Chartered members of Engineers Australia, registered on the NER or engineers with more than five years of post-graduate engineering experience.
- Someone who has had a recent professional relationship with you.
- Someone who knows your work and the experience you’re using to support your self-assessment.
- In the same area of engineering practice that you’re seeking registration.
An assessor will contact each of your referees to discuss you and your experience.
Registration on the NER operates on an annual subscription basis with different fees for members and non-members.
The cost of competency assessments are:
EA members
$351.45 (including GST)
Fee includes registration on the NER for the remainder of the current membership year. Members pay a renewal fee of $110 (including GST) to remain on the NER after the first year. The fee is invoiced with your annual EA membership fee.
Non-EA members
$590 (including GST)
Fee includes registration on the NER for the remainder of the current financial year. Non-members pay an annual fee of $180 (including GST) to remain on the NER after the first year.
Additional area of practice fee
If you’re already on the NER and want to add a further area of practice, you can apply through the EA portal.
The cost to members to add an additional area of practice is $351.45 (including GST).
If you have any questions about credentials or membership, please contact our membership team.
If you have any questions about credentials or membership, please contact us.